Fred has given you some excellent advice, but let me give you a word of caution if you will be offering discounts and issuing discount coupons.
As I have posted in other places on this forum, when you give discounts make sure it has an expiration date, especially on printed material. If you don't specify an expiration date, you must honor that discount forever and it will surface again years later.
My friend was taken to court and lost when a discount he offered many years prior (discount coupon) was presented. Because he didn't include an expiration date, the judge said he was required to honor it. Needless to say, the item that was listed in the discount had gone up in price over the years and his cost was now more than what he was originally selling it for. He lost a lot of money and had to discontinue that product.
Hi Taylor, You probably have not seen a reply on your request because business owners typically don't want to send any sample reports that contain peoples personal information.
I would be happy to tell you what many business owners include in their final package. Of course there are variations depending on the business owner's preference. First, most people do include a printed set of reports but I know of some business owners who have 'gone green' and only provide reports on CD to save paper and charge a fee for the printing. Personally, I feel the customer is spending a good amount of money and you should include the printing. Some use a 3 ring binder and some use the spiral type binding option. You can get a binding tool at Staples to easily and professional create a portfolio. Some people prefer the spiral binding option because a personal can then bend their reporting package a bit so it can fit in a small safe deposit box.
Here is what I suggest you include but feel free to make any adjustments that you like:
1. Bound Printed Package containing the following: (a) Cover Sheet (w/ name, address, home pic, your business name on thick stock/glossy paper) You can use the one from our reports or create your own in Word (b) Home Purchase Report (c) Home Inventory (by location) report (d) Home Inventory (by Category) report
2. CD containing Reports, just create each report in the business software then while viewing on the preview window click the export icon (looks like envelope) and choose the option for PDF and disk file. Save each report and burn to a CD, create a nice CD label with the client's name and your business name. You can optionally export all the full size images using the large Export button in the software and copy those to the CD as well.
3. Video DVD (optional) If they paid for video you can simply take a video of the exterior then of each room, scanning from one side to another (zooming in on expensive items) Don't take too long on any video because the real value of the inventory is in the reporting details and pictures.
Use good quality office materials for your package, I also suggest you include some extra brochures, business cards and possibly a discount coupon so your customers can pass easily to their friends and family.
I was just wondering if someone could send me an example of the final product that we give to customers. Just so I could get a feel of what needs to be in it and what it should look like.
